Spark plug cleaner and tester



April 25,1950

Filed Jan. 14, 1947 M. A. MICHAELS SPARK PLUG CLEANER AND TESTER 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A ORNEY M. A. MICHAELS SPARK PLUG CLEANER ANDTESTER April 25, 1950 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1947 k 6 a R Y ww 0 M 0 A W M 2 3 //M/V .QN NH. 5 A

M. A. MICHAELS SPARK PLUG CLEANER AND TESTER April 25, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jam 14, 1947 INVENTOR April 25, 1950 M. A. MICHAELS2,505,422 v SPARK PLUG CLEANER AND TESTER Filed Jan 14, 1947 r4'Sheets-Sheet 4 MA.M'cZaeZ9 INVENTOR BY in I n MQEY Patented Apr. 25,1950 .5'ApplicatimJannar-y 14,

,fllheninnentlomdiseloseelfln-athis pntentrelatestoatheleleanine;.andttestingeorspark lu sl Qbiectseer"thee-invention are'torprovide apparatus;or-.th pnrpose,:imtheiorm of a simple. compact:11ml} whiehecaneheq uickly and easily set up for use and which willconstitntela practicalandeserviceablenmt ior efficiently perform- 1',eallr essential spark 331133 ,cleaning and testing operations.

.In; addition .to th epxactical-f purposes, it lei-an obiect of rtheinvention tozprovi'de-a servicing. unitof;theitypezseteforthrwhinlx-wlllebe of an attracrstoleims. longer-+3);-

view -.on-;substantially+themlane of lin 5'--.-5 of Ri a-1%;

' Fig- :6 :is asimilttr view (onsnbstantiallyuthe two. designthereforetdesi-rable. because of f ppeamnca rend adaptability ur ofinefi flbjentseofethe inventlon are.toprovide n off'tlieyspeoificeitionlillus'trater oneeoiithe present. 1

commercial embodlments.-. off. the.v invention. Structure, ihoweven;v.ma 'z. be modified and changed asregands.zthenimmediate. .disclosuneall within the true intent andbroad seopeiofstheinventionrasrhereinaiten I defined andnclaimed;

F g, 1v.inwthezsdrawinglis a plan viewer-of none-10f thespark.tplugroleanerszand-testers;with broken lines indicatingertheiracksnatoopposite'a.sides of. other heizhingedofonwardly to posetheladaptersiontnthen ssoryq parteiused withithe machinq 1' Fig. 2 is abroken front elewatijflma-ofwtheemachine; V r n E se- 3-amenlaesechsidee: elevatlomzandamrtbroken.sectionaleviewof:theeuppemportion=-nf;the ap ratus; 7

:Fig eisea. brokemseotioxml:detailrshowingethe: hinge mounting for oneof thernnliminl1y?eneming racksoonzdmwensg;

;F i g, .7 isea brokenecrossnsectionalyiew on:substantial-ly the planeoilines-J-loi Figs 3=and .6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan viewshowingthe aimsnpply passagesitos the :abrasive and cleaning nozzles. V I :Inthmiorm ofothe invention illustrated, :the qpemtiize pants zin mhemainaree enclosedwithin *iavv zprotectine rand j i nerally ornamental form.of

cabinet l0 having a raisedgcentral.,portion H oal eyi gnbhe.oleaningestructureqatethe back and the testing mechanism at. :the.gvf-ront andwith shoulders filiuQQROSifiBaSid-Q of :the raised center-'-portion providing l shelvessor tables l2 :and 13 for snppnntmfracksorlholdersrforespark,plugs, tools 7 nozz1e. -when (sushipartsearennotlfin use.

or the like.

tn :s-wingingaguard l Mat the =ba.ck, -,carried' by a lFigwfiee zgedibyacspring. l'fi; covers plu receiving.- socket and cleaning ThisgnarcLaasrnhowntimbrolren-lines.inFig I, can be nushed'nside against thetension of the spring as a plug is being inserted in theoleaner, anda ettlalimits thetswing: inmtheepnosit'e direction tonswmdhstandingin (theprotective position at all;ltimesewhenvtheecleanenissnot in I actualuse.

-';'I2.'o.usea1- .-the Lspark plugs 48 imposition in the specialadapters -are employed, -.constnucted; aseshewn: in-illig, 5-,;:with.aF- heavy flange or body portion IS, a thin diaphragmwall zn attheetopnwitht si -passage I -.to --,-admit the; plug and withs-a thin;flexible dependent-kcollar portion 2-2 too-enter ttheeannulfar =h0using. -23- formingawell :Holdersv or .ad%pt'ers 129- for different.-sizes or constructions of spark ;:plugs preferably areprovided and aa.speciakfeatune nithe machine is to stack thesezadepterston a;racleonspindle 25, Figs aeaindg iii 0n .theebackuof: tandoori 26iset inthe-irfront cfithezeabinet whereethey "will bev conveniently at hand foruse by the operator.

=, 51 g, balemceetlcie:front ioithe:cabinetpanrlqpito--szitieaceommedai'liondonv otheraaccessory parts,;za,- similar. moon2J-,.-is= shown in Fig; l,,, pivotally mcuntednatl. thexnig-hthandnsidenfor carrying. adopters ion use in: the testingeportion 1 ofthe eguipmente Tigekshonwsehom the doorsaizfixandaz'l may behingedlwmounted ate-the bottom sozas .toxzswing' outwardrlikeebinswbyhaving projecting.- pins 28 atethes-idesiwhicmw-illdrcpzinwardsandzdowmin:

r e 1 bmken .55; wQ gb rflubs jk in: vthe:;.sbacle.l of the;stationaryand grip the screw threaded base portion of the spark plug andso that the dependent annular flange 22 will closely fit but. yieldinglyrotate within the housing 23.

down through the flange 63 of the adapter sleeve 23 seated on the covermember 59, to enable one set of screws to secure both parts in positionand in so doing to secure and pivotally mount the finger ievers 51, 58,in operating position over the valve stems.

The hinged guard i4 is shown in Fig. as mounted on the hollow covermember as, so that the removal of one set" of screws '62 enables anentire group of parts to be taken ofi. At the same time these holdingscrews are normally out of sight, beneath the flange of the spark plugTo hold the sealing lip 2|) in uniformly annular formation when it isstretched by the entered spark plug, there is provided at the under sideof the same an annular reenforcing ridge or ring 33, Fig. 5, of largerdiameter than the spark plug hole 2| and set far enough back from thespark plug opening to allow the lip to yield downwardly to admit theplugbase without becoming dis-' torted or losing its uniformly circularshape. This reenforcing ridge, like the rest of the adapter, may stretchsomewhat, if necessary, but it at all times reenforces' the thin lipportion, causing it to keep firm sealing engagement with the screw baseof the plug.

- The nozzle 24 for the cleaning blast is shown in Fig. 5 as a flangedbushing of rubber'or like material thrust upwardly through an opening inthe-top of-the nozzle housing 34, directly above the air jet nozzle atthe end of the upwardly directed air duct- 36. v

A tube 31 extending downwardly from withi the nozzle housinginto theabrasive holder 38, supplies the abrasive for the cutting and cleaningblast-and 'an upwardly directed nozzle passage 39 from'a second air duct40 provides the blast for cleaning purposes.

A nipple 4|, Figs. 1 and 2, on the side of the head provides means forconnecting the unit with a compressed air supply source. At the insidethis supply nipple is connected with a water trap 42, from which branchsupply piping 43, 44, extends forwardly to-the cleaning and testingelements, respectively.

Fig. 5shows the air tubing 43 connected with a manifold 45 having onebranch 46 with a valve 41 controlling admissionto'theduct 36 supplyinginduction air for the-abrasive. In similar manner,-another branch 50controlled by a valve 5|, supplies air to the duct 40 for the air blastcleaning 'nozzle-'39.' A Both-air valves arealike, consisting, as shownin Fig. 5,.Iof a downwardly opening valve, 41in this particular case, onthe lowerend of a vertically sliding stem 52, said valve being seatedupwardly by a light spring 53 and adapted'to be opened downwardly by aheavier spring 54 bear ing on the head 55 at the upper end of the valvestem and adapted to be pressed downwardly by a button 55 engaged by aflngerle'ver, 51in the case of the abrasive jet and 58 in the case ofthe aircleaner jet, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5' shows how the flnger levers are pressed upwardly by thespringsupported valve operating buttons against an overstanding cover or'housing 59, and also how the innerends of such levers are rounded at 60to operate as pivot' fulcrums in the correspondingly rounded seats 6| atthe under side of the cover housing. In this view, also, there is shownone of the screws 62, of which there may be two or more, for securingthe cover housing 59 down over the top" of the cabinet. This screw.orscrews may pass adapter [9.

The air line 44 is shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, as connected at the frontwith a manifold 64 branched at 65, 65, to the test heads 61, 68.

The latter are shown in Figs. 6 and '7 as socketed to receive screwadapters 69 for different kinds of spark plugs.

The inner ends of the test chambers 61, 68, are closed by transparentcovers 10 and these ends of the chambers are opposite aninclinedreflector ii on the front wall of the cabinet top, Figs. 1 and 2, sothat the action of a cleaned plug or plug under test can be comparedwith a new or standard plug.

To enable quick change-over in making the comparative tests, a slidingand swinging connector is provided, in the illustration, in the form ofa rod or post 12 slidingly and rotatably guided in a sleeve 13, Fig. 6,in the front of the cabinet'head, said post carrying-a low tension cable14 and push-button switch 15 and a high tension cable 16 continuingthrough a laterally extended arm ii to a terminal 18 engageable with theend of a spark plug seated in either of the testing sockets.-

As shown in' Fig. '6, the control switch 15 is located in a central knobextension 19 of the insulating. support, providing a convenient grip forsliding and 'turning'the support to bring the end contact 18 into andout of engagement with spark plugs seated in the'test chambers. Thisswitch serves to connect the wires 80'of the primary low tension circuitand, located as shown, is in convenient position for the button of thesame to be actuated by a finger of the hand grasping the'knob 19. j-

The necessary electrical connections are indicated in a general way inFig.3; Where an extension cord is shown at 8|, provided with a terminalplug 82 for engagement in an outlet receptacle, said cord beingconnected at one side at 83 with the primary winding of a spark plugtransformer 84, the other side, 85, of such primary winding and theother side,'8| i, of the cord circuit being connected with the two wires80 of the low tension cable 14 running through the insulator 12 to thepush-button switch 15. I

The high tension lead l6,'carried by the insulating support 12, isindicated as'extended at the back direct to the high'tension terminal ofthe transformer 84, enough slack being left in the free portions of boththe low and the high tension cables 14 and 76 to allow for thein-and-out sliding and the rotary movements of the insulating insulatinghandle normally retracted in the houssecondary circuit; ally-controls;and connections can be eifected frc'nnthis single handle. Both "'its-are normallyj'iipe'n aridthe only switch fs' i'nl 'tension piliharyside of -the- -spark supply connections. This keeps the operator safeagainst shock. Inward pressure on the switch to close the primarycircuit serves to press the high tension contact all the more firmlyagainst the end of the spark plug, assuring good connection for thetesting operations.

The holder for the abrasive, generally designated 38, has a wall offilter cloth. This wall, designated 89 in Fig. 5, may be fibreglasssupported by nylon.

The invention provides, in attractive cabinet form, a completelyself-contained unit for either or both cleaning and testing spark plugsand which can be made immediately available by simply plugging'it intoan electric outlet, at 82, and connecting on an air hose, at 4 I.

The cleaning and testing operations can be quickly efiected by changingthe plugs from one to a closely adjoining station. The plugs arecompletely sealed in at the cleaning station so that the operationsthere of scouring with abrasive and then cleaning with the air blast,are quick, clean and safe. In the scouring operation, the holder oradapter I9 in which the plug is sealed may be rotated with the fingersone or more turns in the holding socket 23, to assure presentation ofall parts of the plug to the blast jet.

The operations are completely and conveniently under control of theoperator through selective use of the finger keys 51, 58. Theautomatically closing guard l4 avoids possibility of discharge of theblast through accidental operation of the control keys.

All parts are of simple, rugged design, easily assembled and, ifnecessary, disassembled. Furthermore, all operating parts are containedwithin the cabinet structure, protected and out of the way, leaving thecabinet exteriorly unimpeded, smooth and generally attractive inappearance.

Necessary accessory parts such as adapters for the plugs at the cleaninand testing stations, while normally housed and out of the way, areconveniently available on the backs of the outwardly swinging doors 26and 21.

The. adapters l9, as shown in Fig. 5, bear directly on the supportingflange 63 of the cleaner housing 23, assisting the dependent annularwall 22 in providing a proper rotary seal, and the laterally extendedflange portions of the adapters in this relation provide convenientfinger grip portions for turning the adapters and thus exposing allportions of the supported spark plugs to the abrasive and cleaningblasts.

What is claimed is:

1. A spark plug cleaner comprising an upwardly directed cleaning nozzle,a casing formiingr-ia scicketrabout h n'same and" *sparkzplug itliinyielding atop :fidiapiiragm baseiportron? of anspark aplugiandia:dependent -annularrwalllrotatabiyzseatedin sealingsengageirnent iitsaid;i socketandzisaidi holder: :having?' 1: alaterally:projectingzthickzfiangepportion bearing onitop'ofrsai'd::casirigsanm-proyiding a ifinger hold byf which "said:holderimay lbearotated to turn the plug oven the nozzle eandi saidyieldin t p Wall of ithe .zholder havin'gz i a: reenfor'cing: rim aboutstand ispaced radial-ly outwardlypf-- thei;spark "plug receivingsopeningin:=;saidavflexible sealing lipsto ,tprevent.deformation-of .-.thelatter.

2."1-A :sparkmlugmleaner comprising. .a "casin having a. well;in-tlreetop zof. .the,-same,.-. aspar k plugsholder rotatably seated.over said .well, sabrasive -and.-a'ir. -.;iet. nozzles a directedupwardly tinto @said well, waives; controlling said nozzles and fingerlevers fulcrumed at one side of said well and arranged to selectivelyactuate the valves controlling said nozzles, a casing about said welland extending over said finger levers, said levers having rounded innerend portions to form the fulcrums for said levers and the overstandingportion of said casing having seats for said rounded fulcrum portionsand said valves having springs thrusting against the levers to hold saidfulcrum portions seated and whereby said levers may be mounted andproperly positioned by simply engaging them with the spring pressedvalve stems and securing the confining casing over the same.

3. A spark plug tester comprising a pair of spaced spark plug testingsockets, a quick change-over connector comprising an insulating supportcarrying a high tension terminal for engagement with the end of a sparkplug seated in either of said testing sockets and mounted for quickshifting movement to engage said terminal with the end of a spark plugin either of said sockets, high and low tension electric connectionscarried by said insulating support including a high tension connectionextending to said terminal and a manually operable switch controllingsaid low tension connections and mounted on said support in position forconvenient manual operation.

4. A spark plug tester comprising a pair of spaced spark plug testingsockets, a quick change-over connector comprising an insulating supportcarrying a high tension terminal for engagement with the end of a sparkplug seated in either of said testing sockets and mounted for quickshiftin movement to engage said terminal with the end of a spark plug ineither of said sockets, high and low tension electric connectionscarried by said insulating support including a high tension connectionextending to said terminal and a manually operable switch controllingsaid low tension connections and mounted on said support in position forconvenient manual operation, said insulating support having a rotatablyand slidably mounted post portion and an arm projecting laterallytherefrom and carrying said high tension terminal and said switch beingmounted at the end of said post portion in position for actuation by ahand rotating and sliding the support in shifting the high tensionterminal from one spark plug to the other.

5. A spark plug tester comprising a pair of spaced spark plug testingsockets, a quick change-over connector comprising an insulating supportcarrying a high tension terminal for engagement with the end of a sparkplug seated in either of said testing sockets and mounted for quickshifting movement to engage said terminal with the end of a spark plugin either of said sockets, high and low tension electric connectionscarried by said insulating support including a high tension connectionextending to said terminal and a manually operable switch controllingsaid low tension connections and mounted on said support in position forconvenient manual operation, said insulating support having a postportion and a laterally projecting arm carrying said high tensionterminal and said post portion being rotatably supported to swing saidlaterally projecting arm over from a spark plug seated in one socket toa spark plug seated in the other socket, said post being further mountedto slide to carry said laterally projecting arm longitudinally towardand away from spark plugs seated in said sockets and spring means actingon said support to slide the same toward the testing sockets.

MAURICE A. MICHAELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,001,886 Rabezzana et al. May21, 1935 2,009,589 Pedersen July 30, 1935 2,277,911 Johnson Mar. 31,1942 2,290,629 Ake et al. July 21, 1942 2,314,556 Rabezzana Mar. 23,1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,312 Great Britain Nov. 21,1941

